Commentaries:
Robertson's Word Pictures (NT)
Lacketh wisdom (leipetai sofiav). Condition of first class, assumed as true, ei and present passive indicative of leipw to be destitute of, with ablative case sofiav. "If any one falls short of wisdom." A banking figure, to have a shortage of wisdom (not just knowledge, gnwsewv, but wisdom sofiav, the practical use of knowledge) .
Let him ask (aiteitw). Present active imperative of aitew, "let him keep on asking."
Of God (para tou qeou). "From (from beside) God," ablative case with para. Liberally (aplwv). This old adverb occurs here only in the N.T. (from aplouv, single-fold, Matthew 6:22, and aplothv, simplicity, generosity, is common— II Corinthians 8:2; Romans 12:8). But the adverb is common in the papyri by way of emphasis as simply or at all (Moulton and Milligan's Vocabulary). Mayor argues for the sense of "unconditionally" (the logical moral sense) while Hort and Ropes agree and suggest "graciously." The other sense of "abundantly" or "liberally" suits the idea in aplothv in II Corinthians 8:2; Romans 12:8, but no example of the adverb in this sense has been found unless this is one here. See Isaiah 55:1 for the idea of God's gracious giving and the case of Solomon (I Kings 3:9-12; Proverbs 2:3).
Upbraideth not (mh oneidizontov). Present active participle of oneidizw (old verb to reproach, to cast in one's teeth, Matthew 5:11) in the ablative case like didontov agreeing with qeou and with the usual negative of the participle (me). This is the negative statement of didontov aplwv (giving graciously). The evil habit of giving stinging words along with the money is illustrated in Sirach 41:22 and Plutarch (De adulat., p. 64A). } Cf. Hebrews 4:16.
And it shall be given him (kai doqhsetai autw). First future passive of didwmi, a blessed promise in accord with the words of Jesus (Matthew 7:7, Matthew 7:11; Luke 11:13), meaning here not only "wisdom," but all good gifts, including the Holy Spirit. There are frequent reminiscences of the words of Jesus in this Epistle.
Other Robertson's Word Pictures (NT) entries containing James 1:5:
James 1:4
James 1:7
James 2:15
James 3:15
1 Peter 4:14
2 Peter 3:9
Revelation 21:6
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